53-1. A relay race where you die if caught.
***
I can hear people muttering around me.
A grassy field that cracks every time you step on it.
The smell of grass slowly blowing in the wind.
The mountain behind the academy where everything is located.
Now the place is full of people who came to watch the final game.
Because the sports meet has become a one-on-one situation.
Fine and I were eliminated, and Team Helio escaped from the room with a majority of our team.
Now, the only place left to compete is relay races.
“..Mr. Mardol.”
A magical translucent running track. A knight made of glass stood next to him.
She doesn’t even answer no matter how many times I call her.
I’ve been in that state ever since I bit the wolf’s ear. Acting like someone I don’t know is embarrassing.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey.”
Furthermore, it was Fine Grancia who kept flinching and being surprised whenever our eyes met.
Is there something on my helmet? Next time, I’ll have to be more careful with skinship.
It’s an excuse that’s not an excuse, but I didn’t want to lose Fine to anyone else.
Because at the last social gathering, there was a time when I stopped numerous nobles from clinging to Fine.
Filthy mouths criticizing her appearance with her gooey eyes.
He only saw her wealth and fame and hated the light words that spoke ill of Fine.
What a warm-hearted person she is.
She thought that up until now she had done her best as her dark knight.
“Mardol, I was too harsh. Sorry.”
Emotion took precedence over rationality in the escape room.
Rather than being a lone wolf, you’re a puppy whose behavior is flawless.
That’s also a puppy eagerly waiting for its owner’s touch.
It might be me, not her, that put her leash on.
“Lee, Licht… Just now… Why did you do that?”
When I offer her words of apology to Fine, she huffs, keeping her distance from me.
Has it finally stabilized? She is Fine, who manages to keep her mouth shut and ask questions.
The rattling glass helmet drew attention.
The figure of a heavily armored knight lowering his head and crouching with his hands together.
It’s a scenery that other people might say is scary.
“Because I was greedy before.”
Inside it was a wolf that was more attractive than anyone else.
“Uh..?”
Golden wolf eyes quivering thinly. I could see that Fine was taken aback by my actions.
“The white wolf is always cute.”
I lied. She said it was pure white like the color of her hair.
I was greedy that this little wolf couldn’t sleep while thinking about what I said.
“That, don’t say that.. I’m ashamed..”
I wanted to hurt Fine more. Shy as she waved her hand.
It is a small hand that contrasts with the master piece he is wearing.
“I was talking about Hayang.”
He made a joke as he gently clasped her hands.
As soon as I grabbed it, it flinched, and the hand trembled.
If I hadn’t possessed the game, I wouldn’t have done anything like this. She is the one who only looked over the monitor.
I want to get to know you more and be with you.
“Huh, hey.”
I just wiggled her fingers a little.
Another strange scream bursts from her mouth.
The area around here is busy preparing for the relay race, so this sound won’t spread.
“Lee, Licht.. Don’t play around..”
Fine opened and closed her hands as if he couldn’t lose either.
I have to know that you have a strong competitive spirit.
“Oh, that’s right. Richt… Hide your identity. It’s dangerous to stay like this.”
After playing around with my hand a few times, she gets to the point.
Stable breathing.
Looks like you’ve gotten better now. Because being surprised is the best medicine for hiccups.
“You look very, very angry.”
Ah, that’s right. Roque Grancia.
I completely forgot he was looking for me at the academy.
Looks like Locke is also in the audience.
“Right now… Licht, I am looking for you. My father.”
If you see me doing this, you’ll shed bloody tears and cut me down with an axe.
In the follow-up where Lupus is the crown prince, there was also a depiction of his child being terrified.
You really came to the academy to find me.
As expected, I shouldn’t have run away from Fine’s bed.
The emperor is a scammer in name and reality. He is the leader who created the Ten Girls and unified the divided kingdom.
Fine also inherited his strength, so it would make my mouth hurt to say more.
The moment you get caught in his hand, you might not even be able to pick out the bones and completely turn to powder.
“Licht, if you use my glass magic.”
She opened her mouth in a small voice.
A magic that receives sunlight and reflects it diffusely like a jewel. Sparkling pieces of glass fly in the air.
“… Maybe I can fool my dad.”
Like when using her joint skill, she summons a pinch hitter and tries to deceive Locke’s eyes.
“No, you don’t have to. Mardol.”
I shook my head. In the end, it’s something I have to accept.
“Why? My dad is scary… Even though I told him not to touch Licht… He’s here…”
Pine. So it’s more like that.
You’ll look like a thief stealing your only precious daughter.
“Licht, what are you thinking..?”
She gave me an anxious look, perhaps wondering about my reaction. Golden eyes swaying inside the glass helmet.
“I plan to be confident.”
She looked into those eyes and lifted the faceplate of her helm.
When she uncovered her face, the burn marks were reflected in her glass helmet.
It doesn’t matter if it’s visible to others.
Now I’m fed up with hiding my identity or running away.
Even the slightly cool air feels new.
“Lee, Licht.. Helm.”
From noble mtl dot com
Fine seems to be dissatisfied with me revealing her face inside the academy and stamps her feet.
“It’s okay. The reason I put this helmet up now is…”
She said that she should always wear it at social gatherings, but is she afraid that other girls will try to snatch me away?
She can’t take off her masterpiece here yet.
“I want to become a black knight who can stand by your side.”
You must become stronger than you are now. You have to be bold.
Not with strength, but with strength of mind.
To stay by the side of the princess of the Grancia Empire, not the nameless saintess.
***
The rules were simple.
[Grand Hearts Academia. That fall athletic meet is now at its end!]
A baton touch game in which the first runner has to run with the box and pass it on to the next runner.
[A crazy run in the back mountain of the academy!]
At the moment, in my arms is a box painted black.
[Last Hope! Let’s run with Pandora’s Box and race through the obstacle course!]
Pandora’s box.
It was sometimes used for gags among players.
An item that gives a good buff with a 1% chance.
It is a probability castle gacha item.
There was a superstitious belief in the community of opening Pandora’s Box before checking raid rewards.
Sometimes, a good buff popped up and there were posts saying, ‘The stack was blown!!’.
Actually, it’s an individual probability, so it must be an independent trial.
“….”
It’s just a memory now.
How much time has passed. I should have talked to work before coming here.
[The first runners of both teams are first-year aces!]
“Huh? Are you going to show your face in school now?”
At that time, I heard a familiar voice while I was lost in thought.
“..Kinel.”
“Did you come up with something else? You used to hide it.”
A man wearing a red vest that is the exact opposite of mine. Before I knew it, a blonde-haired warrior was standing next to me.
“Something like that happened.”
“…The world is unfair after all.”
Kainel shakes his head as he looks at my face.
Yeah, I know burn marks are disgusting. What can i do
My Fine says it doesn’t matter.
“Hey, Licht. If you go around showing your face, the female students won’t play around, will they? Are you okay?”
Maybe Fine might be jealous, so maybe he’s giving you attention.
“Maybe?”
Anyway, other women’s faces look the same, so I’m not very impressed.
“Yes, you must have thought a lot, so it will be okay. It looks much better now.”
“Thank you. Mr. Cainell.”
The blonde-haired warrior gave me a bright expression as if it was all right.
Guess who isn’t the warrior of light. Except for his overreaction to his childhood friend, he’s such a nice guy.
“Kai!! Definitely win!!”
Ariel, who appears to be the next runner, cheers him from behind.
Now it’s hard to even call yourself a tsundere.
Once they start dating, the two seem to get along better.
“..Can I have a look?”
“That’s the thing that hurts my pride the most. Licht.”
I suggested it to Kainel, but it was rejected. After all, it wouldn’t be good to deliberately lose power.
[All you have to do is follow the guidelines and come back here!]
Should I use Ki-woo in this case?
[And you must not use any abilities in the race section!]
Oops, this expedient was blocked long ago.
[Please use the ability only on the obstacle course!]
[Also, the Pandora’s box you are holding will automatically open after a while, so be careful with variables!]
[A piece of luck left at the end of misfortune!]
“Let’s do well. Licht.”
“Thank you very much.”
Kinel and I are ready to play together.
[..3]
I started to gain strength in my legs. Blood circulates in a body that seems ready to kick off the ground and run.
[..2]
The moment he looked to the side with a strange desire to win.
[SYSTEM: Life detected nearby.]
At that time, a red window appeared in front of me.
It’s not the usual pink window.
I thought the love level would go up. What else is this?
[Roc Grancia sees you and enters Rage Phase.]
Why do I get notifications like boss monsters?
Locke should be angry when he sees me….
Behind Kynell, I felt something strange and looked away.
[..1!]
The Emperor of the Empire. Roque Grancia.
I saw a man from the Yinrang tribe with a long scar over his left eye.
[Last Hope!! Let’s start now!]
Locke makes a strange gesture at the place where it says VIP seat.
He points his eyes with his two fingers, then gestures again as if pointing at me.
A sign that you are being watched.
It was a moment when I clearly felt what a rabbit’s heart felt like being caught by a wolf.
[Survive. Soohyun Lee. Good luck.]
Roque Grancia found me.
The bloodiest game of tag. Run boy run, the world is not made for you.